The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hilltop El
Hilltop Elementary serves PreK through fourth grade in Azle, a town in Parker County. The school enrolls a small to moderate number of students, just over half of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, and other students. Specific data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available.
On state math and reading assessments given in the most recent school year, Hilltop's proficiency results sit below the stronger performers in the county, though the school performs above the county's midpoint overall. In third-grade math, about two in five students scored at proficient or above. Fourth-grade math results were lower, with about one in three students proficient. Reading showed a somewhat stronger picture: in third grade, near half the students reached proficiency, and in fourth grade just under half did so. Across all tested grades and subjects combined, the school's overall proficiency falls in the upper half among Parker County districts.
The testing data reveals that math is a softer area for Hilltop relative to reading. When looking at the full distribution of student performance, most students at the school fall into the "approaches" category, meaning they are working toward the grade-level standard. A smaller share reached the "meets" level. Very few students scored at the "masters" level, in both math and reading. A parent may want to explore with the school what supports exist for students working below grade level and what differentiated instruction looks like in the classroom.
Azle Independent School District, of which Hilltop is part, has undergone significant facility and structural changes. Voters approved a bond in November 2023 that funded a new junior high, expansions to an existing one, and renovations to eight elementary schools, including Hilltop. These construction projects were expected to complete by the summer of 2026. Along with the facility upgrades, the district implemented a grade realignment shifting elementary campuses to a PreK-5 model and junior highs to grades 6-8, reducing the number of times students change schools. The district has also lowered its property tax rate for five consecutive years, a sustained reduction that factors into the cost of living in the area.
Housing in the Azle zip code is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks, with home values stable to slightly declining year over year. Rental costs have ticked upward modestly. For families considering the area, the tax relief at the district level partially offsets housing costs, and the facility investments signal district commitment to infrastructure.
Hilltop is a regular public elementary school with no charter or magnet designation. The school sits within a district experiencing growth that prompted the bond and grade-structure changes. For families looking for a small elementary setting in a town with low property taxes and improving facilities, Hilltop offers that context. For families prioritizing strong baseline proficiency in math, the recent results suggest a parent should have a direct conversation with school leadership about curriculum, intervention programs, and how the school tailors instruction to different learner needs.
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